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"If I cut out a quarter of what I've read about you, there'd still be plenty to go on. Like the
time one of your girlfriends chased a half-naked actress through the Waldorf-Astoria lobby? And
what had that lovely Cameron Diaz wannabe been wearing? A feather boa across her breasts and
a pair of your boxer shorts, isn't that right?" Callie put her hands on her hips. "That was a
personal favorite of mine. Featured in People as well as the New York Post. "
He swore out loud, long and hard. "That was years ago. And she was wearing my pants if
I remember correctly."
At the time, he'd found the incident hilarious. After the great chase had begun, he'd sat
back in his suite and waited until either his pants came back or the woman he'd been dating for
six weeks did. Now, in retrospect, and especially in front of Callie, the theatrics seemed
immature.
He took a deep breath. "I'm not like that anymore."
"Are you sure about that?" she muttered.
"Back then, I never would have apologized to you because I wouldn't have felt badly.
Now, I do. I know I don't have a lot of credibility when it comes to ... things like this, but you've
got to believe me. I had no intention of going down that road with you."
She stared at him, measured him. "Have you ever cheated on... her before?"
"No. And I never planned to." He walked over to the couch and sat down, putting his
elbows on his knees. "I just got caught up in the moment and I made a mistake. I don't know
what else to say."
Her gaze shifted to the window, and after a moment, returned to him. "I'm not like those
women you're used to. I'm... just not."
No, he thought, she certainly wasn't. She wouldn't put up with being used and he had no
desire to treat her casually, either.
"I know that," he replied. "I found it impossible to turn away from you. That's my
weakness. Not your fault."
Her head lowered and she stared at the floor for a while.
"If I stay, it's for the work. Not because I'm interested in playing games. I don't want you
to do that again."
He frowned. "You mind if I ask why not? "
"What kind of a question is that? "
"What I mean is, do you have someone in your life?" He didn't really think she'd answer
him, but he wanted to know.
"That's totally irrelevant. Because even if I were alone that doesn't mean I'd be looking
for you."
He had to smile. "You've made that very clear."
Gradually, the tension left her shoulders and her chin started to drop.
"So, can we be friends?" he asked, surprised to realize how much that mattered to him.
"No, we can't be friends." Her eyes drifted back to the window. "You and I, we are never
going to be friends."
He didn't like that answer.
"Why not?"
"We have nothing in common."
"Untrue. We both like art. Dogs. Grace Woodward Hall. I'm sure the list could go on and
on."
She shook her head. "I work for you. Just like the other hundred or thousand or however
many people make up the Walker Fund. I'm simply one of many
"No, you aren't."
" and I want to stay that way."
"Have you always preferred anonymity or is this just a special case because you want to
avoid me?"
"This time I'm choosing it."
Jack's hunter instincts sharpened. "And when was it not your choice?"
Quickly, she turned away. "This conversation is over."
She walked across the room and picked up her toolbox, putting it on the table with a
declarative sound.
He studied her for a moment, wondering what had caused her retreat. What exactly she
was hiding.
"Tell me something."
"No."
"You don't know what I'm going to ask."
"And I don't care."
More gently, he said, "I just want to know. Did you get hurt by someone?"
She looked over at him, her eyes sparkling with outrage. "You're out of your mind, you
know that?"
He stood up. "I'm just thinking it might explain something."
"And what exactly do you think needs explaining?"
"Why you pulled back from me."
The blush that came to her cheeks was just about the most attractive thing Jack had seen
in a while. And it was confirmation, regardless of whatever denial she was about to throw at him,
that she'd felt the same way he had in that closet.
Her chin rose again. "Maybe it's as simple as I didn't like it."
"That wasn't what it felt like to me."
"Then maybe you just enjoyed it enough for the both of us." Her eyes flicked down to the
fly of his pants.
The idea that she'd felt his arousal made him clench his teeth with need.
He knew he should back off. He knew he should just let it all go because if he pushed her
too far she was fully capable of walking out on the project. On him.
But he just couldn't. Her defiance captivated him, making the compliance he got from
other women seem pale and uninteresting.
"Callie, I don't care if you pushed me back because you don't like me or because I was
inappropriate or because I moved too fast. All of those are no doubt true. But I would appreciate
some honesty. You liked it when I kissed you."
She gave him a righteous huff. "You ever have trouble fitting that ego of yours indoors?"
He shook his head slowly. "Not in a place the size of Buona Fortuna. I'd probably have a
hard time with a ranch or a split-level, though."
She opened her mouth to speak, but then a smile tugged at the corner of her lips and she
turned back to the toolbox.
Damn, but he wished she'd share the expression with him.
Jack took a step toward her and then forced himself to stop. "Listen, there's nothing
wrong with pleasure and most people, when they're lucky enough to find it, don't want to stop.
Unless, of course, they're already with someone or they've been hurt before, which brings me
back to my point. You are one of the most defensive, closed women I've ever met. It makes me
think that someone's done a number on you."
She glanced at him over her shoulder and the smile was gone. "I have no intention of
discussing my personal life with you. It's none of your business as it doesn't impact our
professional relationship. And I am not defensive!"
He cocked an eyebrow and smiled softly.
She cleared her throat and looked away. "Maybe I'm just wary of strangers. Which is a
very healthy thing."
"Does that mean, if you knew me better, you wouldn't be so cautious?"
She laughed and the rueful edge to the sound was a relief to him. "I'm always going to be
wary of you."
"Callie look at me."
It was a while before she did. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]